Prosecutors to drop sex assault case against Harvey Weinstein

Decision made after two separate juries are unable to reach verdicts in case against him

NEW YORK:

US prosecutors moved to drop a sex assault case against disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein Thursday after two separate juries were unable to reach verdicts in the case, the cinema mogul's spokesman told AFP.

The case centered on allegations by actor Jessica Mann that Weinstein sexually assaulted her after the pair met at a party in 2013 when she was 27 and the cinema power broker promised to boost her career.

It was the third time that Mann has taken the stand against Weinstein after a 2020 guilty verdict was overturned due to mishandling of witnesses, and a 2025 case ended in mistrial after a jury-room feud.

The Manhattan District Attorney did not respond to a request for comment on the move that would effectively avert a fourth trial on the claims.

Weinstein, who was at the center of abuse allegations that spurred the MeToo movement in Hollywood, is already in prison for other sex offenses, so he will remain behind bars despite the end of this case.

Weinstein's spokesman Judah Engelmayer told AFP the prosecution was "dropped. They just did (it)," confirming US media reports.

"He's relieved. This is what should have happened had the prosecution showed the full extent of emails, texts and private messages (between Weinstein and Mann) to the grand jury initially," he added.

The Oscar-winning Weinstein, 74, is serving a separate 16-year prison term in a California case for the rape of a European actress more than a decade ago. He is appealing that conviction.

He is also appealing a conviction on charges that he sexually assaulted movie producer Miriam Haley.

In 2017, investigations by The New Yorker and The New York Times laid bare a series of claims by young women that triggered an avalanche of allegations from more than 80 complainants and prompted the global MeToo movement.

During the latest trial that ended May 15, Mann recalled how Weinstein "told me that I was prettier than Natalie Portman." She added that Weinstein's apparent interest in boosting her career, including buying her books on acting, initially seemed like a "miracle."

In May 2018, Weinstein had been arrested and charged with rape in New York City; in February 2020, he was found guilty of two of five felony counts. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison, and began serving his sentence. On July 20, 2021, Weinstein was extradited to Los Angeles to face further charges at a subsequent trial, where he was found guilty of three of seven charges on December 19, 2022.